If you take a stroll through a bookstore or browse Amazon you’ll see countless self-help books for every subject. How to make friends, how to get rich, how to get over a bad relationship, and how to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction – the list is endless. Americans spent about $1.24 billion on self-improvement books and audiobooks in 2014 alone. These books tend to best sellers, because everyone is looking for a quick and easy way to improve their lives. But do these books actually work?
First of all, take a look at who actually wrote the book. Did you pick up a book about how to lose 50 pounds in a month? Try looking up the author and see if she’s a doctor, nutritionist, dietician, or even a chef. Odds are that it’s just some person looking to share their personal experiences. That’s fine, and what they have to say may be helpful, but don’t take it as the gospel just because it’s published in a book. Thirty seconds searching on Amazon will find you a book on overeating written by a “chronic dieter,” when really, you could have just spoken to a friend or joined a weight loss support group. Just because it’s called self-help doesn’t mean you can’t seek advice.
If you’re looking at books on addiction, make sure the author knows what they’re talking about. This is your health and your future at stake, and you don’t want to follow advice that might end up harming you. Keep in mind also that just because a person’s name is on a book doesn’t mean they wrote the majority of it. An author might find someone with a Ph.D. to slap their name on the cover for authenticity’s sake, but write most of it from their own, completely uninformed, point of view.
Stand there in the aisle and flip through the first couple pages (or use the sneak peek at an e-book). How’s the quality of the writing? You don’t have to be a grammar snob, but if the first page is riddled with typos, that might be an indication that this isn’t a quality product. Also, how readable is the content? If you pick up a book by a highly credentialed author, it might not do you much good if it’s written like a dissertation and you have to dive for the dictionary every fifth word just to understand it.
If you do read a self-help book, remember that everyone’s experiences are different. The person who wrote that book might have had great success quitting heroin by drinking herbal tea and meditating, but just because that worked for them doesn’t mean that you don’t need detox and therapy. Think of it more as general suggestions. This person found a variety of ways to take their mind off their struggles, and you can do the same, only with your own personal strengths and interests.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
